How do I Make an Ice Fishing Tip-Up?

ice fishing image by Bruce MacQueen from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

Ice fishermen rely on ice fishing tip-ups to signal when there is a strike on the line, which can be difficult to detect if you are not immediately standing over the fishing hole you are fishing or have multiple lines at different spots along the ice. Craft a fishing tip-up using two wooden dowels, two strings of fishing line and a cloth, which will function as a signaling flag for strikes. As soon as you see the flag tip up into the air, you know there is a strike.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

1/4-inch dowel, 22 inches long
3/4-inch dowel, 22 inches long
Fishing line
Strips of colorful cloth

Step 1

Rig the two dowels so the middle of the 3/4-inch dowel meets the middle of the 1/4-inch dowel to form the cross.

Step 2

Swathe the dowels with fishing line and rope the two pieces tightly together. Tie the free end of the fishing line to ensure the construction of the ice fishing tip-up is firmly intact.

Step 3

Bind the tag end of the strip of cloth to the long end of the 1/4-inch dowel, wrapping a new string of fishing line around the clothed end of the 1/4-inch dowel.

Step 4

Bind the fishing line to the short end of the 1/4-inch dowel using a fishing knot.

Step 5

Test the efficacy of the fishing line. Gently pull the fishing line to test the dowel tip up and employ the flag.

Tips & Warnings

Using bright cloth will grab your attention more quickly than white.

Resources

Article Written By Charlie Gaston

Charlie Gaston has written numerous instructional articles on topics ranging from business to communications and estate planning. Gaston holds a bachelor's degree in international business and a master's degree in communications. She is fluent in Spanish and has extensive travel experience.

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